Cinematograph screen



Aug. 18, 1931. ,1 c, HECK 1 1,819,776

CINEMATOGRAPH SCREEN Filed NOV. 5, 1928,,

His Azzbrrey.

Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JACOB C. HECK, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESN'E ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE DA-LITESCREEN COMPANY, INC., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS A CORPORATION 03' ILLINOISCINEMATOGRAPE SCREEN Application filed November 5, 1928.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the screen,

a loudspeaker device being shown in elevation therewith.

With more particular reference to the drawings, 11 designates asupporting rectangular frame for the screen 14, the frame having eyelets12 by means of which the frame is sustained from the cables 13. Thescreen 14 has the perforations 15, which latter, comprising an importantfeature of my invention, will be hereinafter described.

The frame 11 is also provided with a plurality of hooks 19 which aremounted in the frame 11, the hooks cooperating with grommets 2O suitablyincorporated into the reinforced edge 21 of the screen, therebyproviding a means for lacing the cord 22 be tween the frame and thescreen, in this manner maintaining the latter in stretched condition. Asshown in Figure 2, a loud speaker device 16 which may be of any desiredtype, is mounted on a stand 17, equipped with rollers 18, and placedadjacent the screen to be coordinated and synchronized therewith whenpictures are projected on the latter.

As an important feature of my invention, the screen is provided with aseries of perforations, which are preferably quite small in diameter, asindicated in Figure 1. It is highly essential in this art to preserve aneflicient light reflecting surface for the purpose of clear definitionin the projection of motion pictures. For this reason, I have determinedby experiment that if the perforations exceed, to an appreciable degree,the

Serial No. 317,210.

magnitude of those herein indicated, the greater ease with which soundsare then transmitted through the fabric, is at the expense of clearnessof definition of the projected pictures. In consequence, a balance mustbe arrived at which will yield results pf the character demanded by acritical pub- The fabric I employ for my screen is preferably of a thinbut dense structure. This 1s animportant feature since in the fabricsnow in use 1n motion picture houses, those chosen with a view topermitting the tones of the loud-speaker to pass therethrough, are madeof a highly porous and fuzzy material which, to a considerable degree,absorbs instead of reflecting light rays projected thereon;consequently,'render1ng the definition poor, and darkening the entirepicture.

By my invention I not only obtain a light reflecting surface anddefinition comparable to the best projecting surface now used, but alsoa medium through which the loudspeaking apparatus at present employedmay pro ect its tones with clearness and force. It is to be observedhere that the old style screen, if used, however excellent for thepurpose of picture rojection, will have a sound deadening e ect whichwill nullify and absorb the tones emanating from the loudspeaker to apoint where enjoyment of the synchronized vocal and instrumental part ofthe program is lessened to an appreciable degree.

It Wlll be understood by those skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains that the device is susceptible to modification and change,hence, the invention is not to be limited to the precise details as setforth only insofar as these are circumscribed within the scope of theappended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to se cure by Letters Patent is:

A moving-picture screen adapted for coordinated sound transmission,composed solel of a single-thickness finely-woven textileabric screenhaving a front light-reflecting surface to receive the projected pictureand provided with perforations therethrough in number and sizesufficient to permit passage of sound-waves therethrough of appropriatevolume without blurring, while at the same time preserving thelight-reflecting properties of such surface sufliciently to constitutean eificient screen for the presentation of the pictures, the walls ofsaid perforations being at substantially rightanilles to the body of thescreen.

testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. I

JACOB C. HECK.

